Historic Plague Brings Historic Result

If this is what results from the plague being found in Commerce City we should have gotten sick a long time ago.  For the first time ever the Rapids scored 6 goals in a competitive match, Kamara had a hat-trick, and Montreal was not Impactful.  Probably the best game of the year so far (surpassing the LAFC game).

Random Musings:

• The last time the Rapids scored more than 3 goals was the surprise 4-0 beat down in Dallas that broke our team record winless streak in 2015.  The last time we scored 5 was against Seattle in 2013 (a game I did the coin flip at), that was also the last time we scored 4 goals in a half.
• Kamara's hat-trick puts him at 11 goals on the season, the first Rapid to pass 10 since C+C Goal Factory in 2010.  He's 5 short of Casey's single-season record of 16 goals and is currently on pace to tie it.
• Shinyashiki now has 5 goals for the season making a strong run at Rookie of the Year.  I don't think he's the leader but if he finishes with another 3 or so goals he might claim it.
• Montreal made it interesting at the beginning of each half.  First by forcing the own goal for a 1-0 lead, then after the break closing the game from 4-1 to 4-3 and making things a little nervous.
• The Rapids though, responded.  After Montreal got some momentum and pulled close Colorado immediately turned it on to score the 5th and put the game away.  The 6th was just the icing on the cake, Montreal was done when the 5th was scored.
• Credit to Casey for a good game plan.  He saw the size differential between our attackers (mainly Kei) and the small Impact back line and took full advantage.  Set pieces and crosses gave the Rapids the edge.
• Depending on how you classify it the Rapids scored 3-5 goals from free kicks.  The own goal, Rubio's goal, and Shinyashiki's goal were directly from corners.  Kamara's third wasn't directly off a free kick but the build up was a free kick passed between Vines and Price a couple of times before the cross, so it could have been a set play.  And then of course the penalty kick is technically a set piece.
• Needless to say the Rapids easily lead the league on set piece goals now.  Whatever Casey is doing in training is working on that front.
• This game is another example of what this team can do when the best XI are available and they're in their favored formation.  It works, don't change it unless its forced.
• Casey is now at 1.5 pts/game in his tenure.  That's as real solid number that if he can keep it up would be enough to earn him the job full time.  Its been against a favorable schedule though, and the schedule gets very unfavorable very quickly now.  I have my doubts we stay at that level.

Player of the Match:  Jack Price.  Yes Kamara had the hat trick and is the easy choice, but Price had 3 assists and showed how deadly he was on free kicks.  He's now up to 8 assists on the year, the most for a Rapids since Dillon Powers had 9 in 2014.  He's only halfway to Carlos Valderrama's team record of 16 though.